What can I do with an Associate Degree in Business?

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What will I Learn During an Associate Degree in Business Program?

Training in the core associates degree in business courses include accounting concepts, management concepts, business concepts, business law, Microsoft office.

#1 Accounting Concepts

Rules of accounting that should be followed in preparation of all accounts and financial statements.

What are Some the Different Software Programs Used for Accounting?

The most widely used accounting software, and the program taught in the Associate of Science Degree in Business at Gwinnett College, is QuickBooks. In 2008 Intuit claimed that QuickBooks had 3.7 million users, representing 94.2% of the business accounting market.

QuickBooks – software solution designed to manage payroll, inventory and sales.

There are also a few other accounting software on the market that you can learn about outside the associate degree program:

Sage – helps invoice customers, pay bills, manage inventory and stay on top of banking.

Microsoft Dynamics – gives small and midsize businesses control over finances, inventory and business intelligence information within an enterprise resource planning software.

NetSuite – deployed cloud enterprise resource planning solution offering financial management capabilities.

#2 Management Concepts

The functions of management include planning, organizing, leading and controlling. These management concepts are typically focused on in the associate degree in business program.

Planning – the foundation of management. Requires administration to assess where the company presently is and where it would be in the coming years. During the planning phase goals are set, a plan is developed, limits are identified, a strategy is formulated, and the plan is reviewed.

Organizing – management must organize resources to follow the course of action decided during the planning process. During this phase jobs are defined, activities are organized, authority is distributed and responsibilities are balanced.

Leading – controlling and supervising the actions of the staff. To lead is to motivate employees toward the planned objectives and delegate tasks to subordinates.

Controlling – establishes performance standards, which are aligned to the company’s objectives and the evaluation and reporting of actual job performance.

#3 Business Concepts

An idea for a business that includes basic information about the service or product, the target market, and unique selling proposition. Business concepts are important to the associate degree in business and the business industry in general.

Basic Information about the Service or Product – First, create a description of the product or service that includes information specific to benefits from a customers’ perspective. This includes how the service or product will meet the consumer needs. Next, include details about the product life cycle including any factors that may influence its cycle in the future. Also, list any intellectual property. Finally outline any research and development activities planned and what results you expect.

Target Market – a particular group of consumers at which a product or service is aimed. The definition of the target market can include demographics (age, gender, etc.), geographic information (address, location, region) behavioral information (degree of loyalty) and psychographic information (attitudes, values, religion, and lifestyle).

Unique Selling Proposition – the factor or consideration presented by a seller as the reason that one product or service is different from and better than that of the competition.

#4 Business Law

The body of law that applies to the rights, relations, and conduct of persons and businesses engaged in commerce, merchandising, trade, and sales. The study of business law, during the associate degree in business, typically encompasses many different legal issues. Some of these legal issues may including:

  • Merchant shipping
  • Bills of exchange
  • Partnerships
  • Corporate practices
  • Hiring practices
  • Manufacturing of consumer goods
  • Distribution of consumer goods
  • Carriage by land and sea

#5 Microsoft Office

An office suite of applications, servers, and services developed by Microsoft. The basic Microsoft Office bundle that you typically learn about in an associate degree in business program includes Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook.

  • Microsoft Word – a word processor used for viewing, editing and creating documents including reports, letters and brochures.
  • Microsoft Excel – a spreadsheet software that allows users to organize, format, and calculate data with formulas using a spreadsheet system.
  • Microsoft Access – a database creation program that is made up of tables, relationships, queries, forms, reports, macros and modules.
  • Microsoft PowerPoint – a slide show presentation software that provides users with an interface to design multimedia slides to be displayed during a meeting or presentation. PowerPoint incorporates images, sounds, videos, text and charts to create an interactive presentation.
  • Microsoft Outlook – a personal information manager used mainly for email management however Microsoft Outlook also includes calendar, task manager, contact manager, note taking, journal and web browsing.

What Jobs Can I Get with an Associate Degree in Business?

Graduates awarded with an Associate of Science Degree in Business can seek entry-level positions based upon their areas of concentration. At Gwinnett College, students can select a concentration in computer information technology, medical office administration, or massage therapy.

Medical Office Administration Assistant – Medical office administration assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. The skills a successful medical office administration assistant needs include:

  • Medical Bookkeeping
  • Office Procedures
  • Medical Insurance and Coding
  • Medical Office Management
  • Medical Laboratory Procedures
  • Medical Law and Ethics

Computer Information Specialist – According to the U.S. Labor Bureau of Statistics, computer information specialists provide help and advice to people and organizations using computer software or equipment. They test and evaluate existing network systems, perform regular maintenance to ensure that networks operate correctly, and troubleshoot local area networks, wide area networks and Internet systems. The skills a successful computer information specialist needs include:

  • Advanced Bookkeeping Skills (Manual and Computerized)
  • End-user Computer Skills (Microsoft Office and Use of the Internet)
  • Computer Maintenance
  • Beginners Keyboarding
  • Business Math and English

Massage Therapist – According to the U.S. Labor Bureau of Statistics, Massage therapists treat clients by using touch to manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body. With their touch, massage therapists relieve pain, help heal injuries, improve circulation, relieve stress, increase relaxation, and aid in the general wellness of clients. The skills a successful massage therapist needs include:

  • Swedish Massage
  • Deep Tissue Massage
  • Neuromuscular Therapy
  • Chair Massage
  • Reflexology
  • Sports Massage
  • Anatomy and Physiology
  • Business and Success Techniques

These are the 5 concepts learned during an Associate of Science Degree in Business program and some of the jobs you will be able to find after graduating.

Ready to get into the business world and want to concentrate your efforts to get the career in the field of your choosing? Gwinnett College offers the Associate of Science Degree in Business with three concentrations including Medical Office Administration, Computer Information Systems and Massage Therapist. This unique Associate of Science Degree in Business program allows students to gain the technical knowledge important in the business field and select a concentration area that specifically addresses their areas of interest.